Epilepsy and driving

You must tell DVLA if you’ve had any epileptic seizures or blackouts.

You must stop driving straight away.

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result.

Car or motorbike licence

Report your condition online

You can also fill in form FEP1 and send it to DVLA. The address is on the form.

Your licence may be taken away. When you can reapply for it depends on the type of seizure you had.

You’ve had epileptic seizures while awake and lost consciousness

Your licence will be taken away. You can reapply if you haven’t had a seizure for at least a year.

If you had a seizure because your doctor changed or reduced your anti-epilepsy medicine, you can reapply when:

  • the seizure was more than 6 months ago

  • you’ve been back on your previous medication for 6 months

  • you haven’t had another seizure in that time

You’ve had your first-ever seizure while awake and lost consciousness

Your licence will be taken away. You can reapply when both the following are true:

  • you haven’t had a seizure for 6 months

  • DVLA’s medical advisers decide there isn’t a high risk you’ll have another seizure

Medical advisers will base their decision on information you and your doctors send them. If they need to carry out an investigation they’ll let you know.

Otherwise you can reapply after a year.

You’ve had seizures while asleep and awake

You may still qualify for a licence if the only seizures you’ve had in the past 3 years have been while you were asleep. DVLA will let you know whether or not you qualify after you’ve filled in the form. Until you hear from them you must stop driving.

You’ve only had seizures while asleep

You may still qualify for a licence if it’s been 12 months or more since your first seizure. DVLA will let you know whether or not you qualify after you’ve filled in the form. Until you hear from them you must stop driving.

You’ve had seizures that don’t affect your consciousness

You may still qualify for a licence if the only type of seizure you’ve ever had is one where:

  • you were fully conscious and aware of what was happening around you
  • you were able to move and did not lose control of your movements

Your first seizure must have been 12 months ago or more.

DVLA will let you know whether or not you qualify after you’ve filled in the form. Until you hear from them you must stop driving.

Bus, coach or lorry licence

Fill in form FEP1V and send it to DVLA. The address is on the form.

How long you will lose your licence for depends on what type of seizure you have.

You’ve had more than one seizure

Before you reapply for your licence, you must show you haven’t:

  • had an epileptic seizure for 10 years

  • taken any anti-epileptic medication for 10 years

  • got a 2% or higher risk of another seizure, according to DVLA’s medical advisers

You must also have a car and motorbike licence.

You’ve had a one-off seizure

Before you reapply for your licence, you must show:

  • you haven’t had an epileptic seizure for 5 years

  • you haven’t taken any anti-epileptic medication for 5 years

You must also have:

  • a car and motorbike licence

  • been assessed in the past 12 months by a neurologist

  • results from medical investigations for epilepsy that are satisfactory to DVLA’s medical advisers

Medical advisers will base their decision on information you and your doctors send them. If they need to carry out an investigation they’ll let you know.

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